Wow History is Here

I just have no words. Our city is basically occupied by ICE. Yesterday they set up a literal checkpoint on Highway 7 and Wooddale. They took and observer AND HIS DOG. Employees at our favorite restaurant, Dancing Ganesha were taken on Thursday. I just. I'm so angry. ICE is literally taking anyone who isn't white. AND they're taking the white people too. They shot a woman last week who was trying to get home. They shot another man in the leg on Wednesday.

There is a license plate recording device at the Home Depot at West End. ICE is using facial recognition software to identify and arrest people. ICE doesn't even have signed warrants, they're just taking whomever they want. 

They've been making their way out of Minneapolis proper. 

I'm so angry. I'm so sad. I organized a food drive for the elementary school. I grocery shop. I make sure people who can't leave their homes can have what they need. I'm doing my best to stay out of the spotlight and keep myself anonymous to save the families I'm helping. 

And yet at school pick up, the fucking Trumpers just stand there like they haven't a clue or they don't give a shit. Or they just really don't like people who aren't the same color as they are. I just don't know what to do. You can't fix ignorance.

I'll update as this goes on. I want to mention this, because it's not right what's happening. It's not ok. I can't continue to post life stories or garden things without addressing what's happening in my backyard.

 

Weekly Meal Planning

I am so annoyed with myself this week. Before I really had to do the primary caretaking for my mom, I really sat down to meal plan and organize everything for the week. I was FABULOUS at being so organized and then chaos descended into my life and all the meal planning was thrown out the window because life became unpredictable.

This past week I decided to start planning and organizing at least 4 out of 5 of my lunches. On Sunday I made roasted veggies to portion out into my usual lunch containers, cut up portions of meat, and cous cous. Then I went downstairs to look for my old meal prep containers. As it turns out, I gave them away on Buy Nothing because I just had no time. I should have kept them. Oh, well.

So on Sunday I just tossed all the veggies in a large container and yesterday I got my new lunch containers in the mail. Lunch prep is saved for the next few months. LOL. 

This week's lunches include: leftover pizza, salads, steak with roasted veggies and potatoes, and my last one is just a salad with roasted veggies. So I'm jumping back into this as easy and slowly as possible.

 

Out With 2025 In With 2026

Our tree is a little lopsided this year. It makes me chuckle every time I walk into the living room.

It's snowing. Again. It's not as relentless as a few years ago but it definitely comes more often than the last two years! Luckily the kids are ok with shoveling and I will happily pay them a few dollars to get outside and earn some money. Q has been shoveling for our neighbor and she is giving him money too!

Phil. He's 6. Still looks like a baby.

I use plain notebooks to keep track of everything I need to do or want to do. It's like I journal for daily life. I can't seem to throw them away when they're full. I bought an actual journal for my garden this year and realized that I probably won't use it. I end up putting everything in one spot and then go back and add in tags and arrows for all the important things. It helps with my mental organization and it also helps me NOT forget things.

Will I do a New Year's Resolution this year? Maybe! I think it might have to do more with physical activity - like get out to a different park for a walk once per month. I have to make it realistic and specific. I have to choose something that I've always wanted to do and make it a priority. This year I'll have more time and so I want to do things that make me happy. 

Happy New Year!